The Hindu : Rahul, Priyanka charm Amethi, Rae Bareli

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004

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Rahul, Priyanka charm Amethi, Rae Bareli

Munshiganj, Uttar Pradesh, Jan. 20. Taking ahead their mother's war-like preparedness for the coming Lok Sabha polls, Rahul and Priyanka stormed the traditional Gandhi bastion, virtually raising the election tempo in the agrarian parliamentary constituencies. They were, however, non-committal on their joining politics.

They zig-zagged their way through the lanes and by-lanes of Amethi and had a whistle-stop interaction with a motley crowd thronging the Rae Bareli constituency.

The Gandhi family members had no scheduled plan to visit Rae Bareli, once represented by the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, but the moment their cavalcade made a screeching halt at a crossing, people started shouting slogans hailing them.

The Rae Bareli visit fuelled speculation that either of the two might contest from the constituency, but they were quick to scotch the rumours saying, ``No, no...we are merely here to interact with the people.''

When an enthusiastic crowd asked her if she would contest from Rae Bareli, Priyanka replied, ``I have not thought about it''.

"How will you then reciprocate the feelings of Rae Bareli, which has been a constituency for Feroze Gandhi and Indira Gandhi," asked a reporter. She did not respond.

During the entire tour of Amethi, Rahul Gandhi virtually got impromptu lessons from Priyanka, who was looking after the constituency which returned Sonia Gandhi to the Lower House in the last elections. — UNI

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Rahul, Priyanka charm Amethi, Rae Bareli